Driving too Close to Cyclist offence

That wouldn't be any defence. There is no speed deemed low enough to be safe to pass a cyclist without giving the 1.5m clearance.

Rule 163 of the Highway Code is pretty clear. Do not pass a cyclist if you can't give 1.5m space. You should drive behind the cyclist until you are in a position to pass them giving that 1.5m distance.

Rule 163

Overtake only when it is safe and legal to do so. You should

  • not get too close to the vehicle you intend to overtake
  • use your mirrors, signal when it is safe to do so, take a quick sideways glance if necessary into the blind spot area and then start to move out
  • not assume that you can simply follow a vehicle ahead which is overtaking; there may only be enough room for one vehicle
  • move quickly past the vehicle you are overtaking, once you have started to overtake. Allow plenty of room. Move back to the left as soon as you can but do not cut in
  • take extra care at night and in poor visibility when it is harder to judge speed and distance
  • give way to oncoming vehicles before passing parked vehicles or other obstructions on your side of the road
  • only overtake on the left if the vehicle in front is signalling to turn right, and there is room to do so
  • stay in your lane if traffic is moving slowly in queues. If the queue on your right is moving more slowly than you are, you may pass on the left. Cyclists may pass slower moving or stationary traffic on their right or left and should proceed with caution as the driver may not be able to see you. Be careful about doing so, particularly on the approach to junctions, and especially when deciding whether it is safe to pass lorries or other large vehicles.
  • give motorcyclists, cyclists and horse riders and horse drawn vehicles at least as much room as you would when overtaking a car (see Rules 211 to 215). As a guide:
    • leave at least 1.5 metres when overtaking cyclists at speeds of up to 30mph, and give them more space when overtaking at higher speeds
    • pass horse riders and horse-drawn vehicles at speeds under 10 mph and allow at least 2 metres of space
    • allow at least 2 metres of space and keep to a low speed when passing a pedestrian who is walking in the road (for example, where there is no pavement)
    • take extra care and give more space when overtaking motorcyclists, cyclists, horse riders, horse drawn vehicles and pedestrians in bad weather (including high winds) and at night
    • you should wait behind the motorcyclist, cyclist, horse rider, horse drawn vehicle or pedestrian and not overtake if it is unsafe or not possible to meet these clearances.
"
Many people misunderstand the Highway Code, which is not of itself a statement of the law, but a combination of both advice and mandatory rules which apply to all road users in Great Britain, although there is a different version for Northern Ireland.

Where a HC rule is expressed as something you ‘must’ or ‘must not’ do, the rule reflects a legal requirement imposed by legislation, breach of which is a criminal offence.

Where a HC rule is expressed in advisory terms, using words such as ‘should/should not’, or ‘do/do not’, the rule doesn’t reflect a legal requirement. A failure to comply with such a rule can however be used as evidence in both criminal and civil proceedings.

For example, a driver’s failure to comply with advisory overtaking rule 163 when overtaking a cyclist too close is relevant to whether they have or have not committed a careless driving offence. Similarly, in civil compensation claims, non-adherence to HC rules is often raised when liability (who is to blame, and who should pay) is determined."

Extracted from What's Legal - and What's Not - on your Bike which I'd linked to in #21
 
Have many cyclists been prosecuted? What about the idiots that ride all in black with no lights? Food delivery riders are doing this a lot, where we live.

Bikes and cars moving at more than 20mph shouldnt be allowed to mix, in my opinion. There should be cycle ways everywhere to accommodate them.
Also noticed loads not wearing a helmet which seems unbelievable to me.

But as someone else said, it should make motorists more careful if anything
 
Yes, unless you're lucky enough to find a courteous cyclist. Rare as rocking horse shyte.
I get it though, doubt many drivers would stop in every single passing place if a faster car wanted to be past. You would never get anywhere

Regardless they aren’t legally obliged to, just wait and be patient, it might add 2/3 minutes to your journey. Hardly worth getting upset about like so many drivers do
 
I did make a post earlier than was sort of daft as it may have derailed the thread, but as the issue of nuisance cyclists has come up…

This morning I crossed Charing Cross Road and had to wait in the middle of the road as the TWO cyclists that jumped the red light travelled past, otherwise one of them would’ve gone straight into me. At lunchtime a bike travelling the wrong way down a one way street in Soho had to break sharply as I’d had the temerity to cross the road as there was no traffic, until this doyle hurtled around the corner. And literally less than 10mins later, a knob head on a Lime bike had to break sharply as they sped around a corner I was turning. On the pavement! Luckily they braked, if not then that would’ve been the second time I’d been by a bike since June.

I’m not meaning to just have a pop at cyclists because there are terrible, terrible drivers too. The numbers of cars, vans and even lorries that jump red lights in central London is absolutely disgraceful. I’ve even seen buses do it too. It’s amazing more people aren’t killed or seriously injured.

It does just seem to be getting worse. So many people have absolutely no thought for pedestrians or fellow road users. Walking to the office in Soho from Charing Cross every morning, you’ve got to be really careful even when using green lights on pedestrian crossings. There are some real dangerous types out there.
I’ve noticed a very toxic trait creeping in: where there is a crossroads with a man attached pedestrian crossing have seen more than a few cyclists (Chiswick high road is dreadful for this) wait when it’s red and cars are going across their path but will happily blast through a red when the pedestrian crossing is in use. So, basically what you’re saying there is you’re only interested in safety if it’s your own safety. You don’t want to get hit by a car, fine, but you don’t care about hitting a pedestrian
 
I get it though, doubt many drivers would stop in every single passing place if a faster car wanted to be past. You would never get anywhere

Regardless they aren’t legally obliged to, just wait and be patient, it might add 2/3 minutes to your journey. Hardly worth getting upset about like so many drivers do
Yes me too, and as a pedestrian I've moved aside countless times to allow a cyclist to pass me on the pavement.

I also get the cycling code information of being aware of your surroundings and being courteous to other road users.

Cyclists can stop and dismount but most pedestrians give way to them on footpaths. Why can't cyclists use similar courtesy on tight roads?
 
The same thing happened to me (I started the last conversation on this topic). The reality is you'll get 3 points or option for a safe driving course, and a £100 fine (I think).
The police will send you evidence next - a picture of your offence, with your fine options. My offence picture was taken by a the cyclist behind the one I was overtaking. Looking at the picture I was puzzled to think that the cyclist was in any danger.. I would estimate the distance I gave him to be about 1.4 m. very marginal, but that is now the law and tbh, I think there are cyclists out there with a point to prove. I am also a cyclist and would never bother reporting unless I really felt in danger.
I was driving a motorhome in a rural area. Here in Bristol you'd be on 12 points before lunch time if every bike had a camera and used it to report vehicles overtaking. It's just not a realistic law in the city. A lot depends on where you are.
 
I did make a post earlier than was sort of daft as it may have derailed the thread, but as the issue of nuisance cyclists has come up…

This morning I crossed Charing Cross Road and had to wait in the middle of the road as the TWO cyclists that jumped the red light travelled past, otherwise one of them would’ve gone straight into me. At lunchtime a bike travelling the wrong way down a one way street in Soho had to break sharply as I’d had the temerity to cross the road as there was no traffic, until this doyle hurtled around the corner. And literally less than 10mins later, a knob head on a Lime bike had to break sharply as they sped around a corner I was turning. On the pavement! Luckily they braked, if not then that would’ve been the second time I’d been by a bike since June.

I’m not meaning to just have a pop at cyclists because there are terrible, terrible drivers too. The numbers of cars, vans and even lorries that jump red lights in central London is absolutely disgraceful. I’ve even seen buses do it too. It’s amazing more people aren’t killed or seriously injured.

It does just seem to be getting worse. So many people have absolutely no thought for pedestrians or fellow road users. Walking to the office in Soho from Charing Cross every morning, you’ve got to be really careful even when using green lights on pedestrian crossings. There are some real dangerous types out there.

I ride a Lime bike round London regularly, and one of the most satisfying experiences is as you cycle past Liverpool Street station seeing the coppers on bikes pull over the knobheads who fly through red lights.
 
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Wow, I am not blaming them, merely pointing toward what may be courtesy i appreciate they don’t have to as I indicated. So, what is the answer then to being an oncoming vehicle in the same scenario where 1.5M is impossible, do I just brake and stop, coming round some bends that may not be possible in time? Edit: sherlock has answered above.
I Cycle a 2 or 3 times a week and this is a common occurrence when I am out near where I live on the country lanes, ideally the driver just slows down and I pull over as much as I can safely and we pass no problem just common sense really but occasionally the oncoming driver keeps going at top speed and scares the ***** out of me unfortunately
 
Dear me this thread is full of cyclists who think that a) the world revolves around them, and b) basic courtesy on the road doesn't apply to them - both of which are a major part of the problem
 
Dear me this thread is full of cyclists who think that a) the world revolves around them, and b) basic courtesy on the road doesn't apply to them - both of which are a major part of the problem

Or conversely full of drivers who:-

1) Think the rules dont apply to them, or because they dont agree with the rule then they're free to ignore it
2) Think the world revolves around them and the most important thing in the world is them getting to their destination as soon as possible
3) Think basic courtesy on the road doesn't apply to them
4) Have a fundamental misunderstanding of the potential risk of death due to the viechle they're driving
5) Think because they can come up with a couple of examples of cyclists breaking the law, that it excuses any illegal or anti-social behaviour a driver wishes to exhibit
 
On a totally different note but linked to pedestrians. We were in London last week and could not believe how little time you have to cross the road. In Doncaster I have time to get half way across, tie my shoelace and continue on my way before the countdown starts.
 
On a totally different note but linked to pedestrians. We were in London last week and could not believe how little time you have to cross the road. In Doncaster I have time to get half way across, tie my shoelace and continue on my way before the countdown starts.
There's the quick and the dead in that there London.
 
Or conversely full of drivers who:-

1) Think the rules dont apply to them, or because they dont agree with the rule then they're free to ignore it
2) Think the world revolves around them and the most important thing in the world is them getting to their destination as soon as possible
3) Think basic courtesy on the road doesn't apply to them
4) Have a fundamental misunderstanding of the potential risk of death due to the viechle they're driving
5) Think because they can come up with a couple of examples of cyclists breaking the law, that it excuses any illegal or anti-social behaviour a driver wishes to exhibit
Yeah but none of this is actually true or has been shown here. I think that’s the problem with certain cyclists. They can’t break out of the “yeah but motorists are murderers” mindset. That’s the issue with a certain types of cyclist
 
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